If the #Cavs want to be a top-5 offense, their 3-point shooting must be near the top of the league, or they must involve the bigs more consistently. Cleveland is shooting 6-for-24 from deep and Mobley & Allen have combined for 3 points in the second half. Not an ideal recipe.

Bump?

Teams were 65-0 when leading by 20+ points at halftime of a season opener in the shot-clock era (1954-55). The #Cavs just became the first to blow that record, falling to 65-1 after surrendering a 24-point halftime lead. As much as things change, maybe some things never do.

Where has the competitive fire gone for the #Cavs? VJ Edgecombe has shown emotion. Tyrese Maxey isn't backing down. Joel Embiid is celebrating after and-1s. LeBron James is resting as Philly extends their lead. Someone on Cleveland has to light a spark to shift momentum.

Sam Merrill back taking charges. It's like we never left.

Mario Hezonja just told the #Cavs to clear out and backed down Anfernee Simons from beyond the 3-point line to near the paint for the bank middie. Is it just me or did Kenny Atkinson take too long putting him (and some of the other role players) back in for the second half?

Cleveland was up by as many as 29 points in the 2nd quarter. They went into the half up by 24. Less than a full quarter later, the Cavs only lead by seven. This has been the recurring problem for this era; they let off the gas. Championship teams don’t let that happen.

Imagine if he'd been more consistently involved in the offense…

James Harden has made some questionable decisions in the second quarter, particularly with shot selection. The role players around him have picked up the slack to create extra opportunities whether off steals or offensive rebounds (yes, both I’m talking about Craig Porter Jr.).

Now Kenny Atkinson has James Harden and Jarrett Allen alongside one another. We're seeing that Cleveland still wants to get a sample of how both pairings work together and will ultimately lean on the answer determined later in the season.

Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor check in with over seven minutes left in the half. They're alongside James Harden, Peyton Watson and Evan Mobley.

First unit of the second quarter begins with Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell on the floor together. Merrill, Tyson and Hezonja around them.

Jaylon Tyson had a big role in the #Cavs taking a double-digit lead into the second quarter, even if it wasn’t with scoring. His screening, defensive activity, and spacing have allowed Cleveland to get looks or extra possessions to extend their lead.

I get wanting to work on sets early into the season, but if Mario Hezonja is going to seal Tyrese Maxey in the post each time down then you allow him to punish the mismatch. Donovan Mitchell slowing the offense down on that most recent possession was questionable at best.